Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (6/14)

ILLINOIS

| AROUND THE STATE

No quorum: COGFA panel unable to vote on Stateville and Logan prison recommendations

“COGFA meeting in Springfield today about IDOC’s proposal to close and rebuild Stateville and Logan prisons. Committee lacks a quorum so will not vote on recommendation as originally expected,” by Capitol Fax.

Governor Pritzker Awards $5 Million in B2B Grants for Local Chambers

“Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today awarded $5 million in grant funding to 151 recipients through the Back to Business (B2B) Local Chambers program,” by the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

County appoints insider as new inspector general

“A new watchdog will be taking over the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General, responsible for rooting out waste, fraud and corruption across much of county government. The post, which has not had a permanent leader since the fall of 2022, will be filled by current Deputy IG Tirrell Paxton. County commissioners approved his appointment unanimously on Thursday,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Bears CEO Kevin Warren added to state business development board

“Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren is joining the board of a statewide economic development organization that works closely with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration to help attract businesses to Illinois,” by the Chicago Tribune.

CHICAGO

Johnson names director of federal affairs, senior legislative assistant

On Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson named Dominique Warren as the Director of Federal Affairs for the City of Chicago and Santiago Ginebra Campillo as Senior Legislative Assistant of Federal Affairs.

Warren previously served as the former National Deputy Director of Government Relations at the Service Employees International Union where he led federal policy on climate/environmental justice, immigration, and economic policy and coordinated electoral campaigns for Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Campillo served as a Legislative Counsel in the Mexican Senate, where he advised a former presidential candidate on key issues like children’s rights, public safety, foreign affairs, and the economy. Campillo has also worked with prominent international organizations, including UNICEF, the U.S. Department of Labor, the World Bank, and Save the Children.

Read the full press release here.

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

O’Hare expansion, La Salle Street makeover take giant steps forward as City Council OKs financing

“Mayor Brandon Johnson got the go-ahead to issue up to $3 billion in bonds to bankroll the next phase of the O’Hare makeover and nearly $160 million in bonds to build housing units inside two La Salle Street office buildings,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

In City Council, a plan to turn Chicago’s data pain into a tax-revenue gain

“Envious of the data center boom in the suburbs and elsewhere around the country, Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, thinks he has the ticket to boost the city’s share of the pie and increase property tax revenue,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

City Council approves noise regulations around West Loop abortion clinic, delays vote on measure banning lobbyists from giving to mayoral campaigns

“Two alderpeople postponed a vote on a measure to codify prohibitions on lobbyist donations to mayoral campaigns at City Council Wednesday, and the council also approved a measure that places noise regulations around a West Loop abortion clinic after it faced its own delay last month,” by The Daily Line.

Political Clapback Stalls Logan Square Apartment Development, Sparking City Hall Confrontation

“Ald. David Moore held up two development proposals in Ald. Daniel La Spata’s ward as payback for La Spata’s attempt this spring to delay Moore’s ordinance aiming to keep ShotSpotter in Chicago,” by Block Club Chicago.

Chicago’s commissioner of business affairs retiring

“Ken Meyer, the city’s commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, is leaving City Hall by the end of the month,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Johnson all in on ‘game changer’ quantum center at South Works site

“Seizing on a rare opportunity to jolt Chicago’s economy and potentially revitalize portions of the South Side, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration appears to be all in on efforts to lure a next-generation computer complex to the former U.S. Steel South Works property along the city’s southern lakefront,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Chicago Teachers Union presents demands in advance of first-ever public bargaining session with Chicago Public Schools

“The Chicago Teachers Union presented its demands for “Green Schools,” Thursday, in advance of a historic contract bargaining session with Chicago Public Schools, the first of its kind to be open to the public,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago begins evicting entire migrant families from city shelters

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has begun the process of removing from city shelters dozens of migrant families, including those with children who attended Chicago Public Schools,” by the Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: GOP Thinks Big

Republican leadership is outlining an ambitious legislative agenda if the GOP gains control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in November.

Despite House Republicans’ efforts to pass their versions of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act and FY25 appropriations bills before the August recess, the measures will not pass until after the election and could face roadblocks that prevent them from even clearing the House.

While many federal agencies are winding down their rulemaking agendas, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is just gearing up for a sprint to finalize a number of sweeping reforms before a possible change in administration.

The Cozen Currents can be read here.

Beltway Briefing, Biden’s Age Concerns: GOP Deflection or Democratic Panic?

With the Trump hush-money verdict in, Trump supporters are more emboldened than ever in their backing of the former president. Meanwhile, concerns are reignited over Biden’s age — is this merely a Republican deflection, or are Democrats genuinely panicking? In an effort to rally support, Biden might be playing politics at the Southern Border with his latest Executive Order restricting immigration, but is it too little, too late? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, the Hon. Rodney Davis, and Kyle Anderson.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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